At Michigan, Kevin Harvick voiced his intent to keep Carson Hocevar’s racing edge intact after Thursday’s crash with John Hunter Nemechek.
Harvick’s Perspective on Hocevar’s Style
In a recent Happy Hour podcast, Harvick said he would advise the rookie differently if the season started over. He praised Hocevar’s ability to place himself in pressure points but warned against losing the Gen 7 car in reckless moves.
The veteran stressed that Hocevar can continue to provoke tension while staying inside the racing envelope. “He’s going to keep putting people in a bad spot,” Harvick told listeners, “and that’s how you race now.”
Despite the contact, Harvick believed the incident was avoidable. He noted that a slight left shift could have made a clean tap on John Hunter Nemechek rather than a wrecking collision.
Earnhardt Jr.’s Reinforcement
Dale Earnhardt Jr., broadcasting on Prime Video, echoed Harvick’s sentiment. He added that Hocevar’s conduct simply adds entertainment to the track, a fact not to be overlooked.
Earnhardt highlighted the driver’s “tremendous amount of entertainment” behind the wheel, hinting that any change would diminish the unique flavor Hocevar brings.
Preserving Hocevar’s Identity
Harvick urged Spire Motorsports to refrain from altering Hocevar’s approach. “You can’t take a driver that drives like that and make him somebody different,” he explained. “The learning comes from experience, not external instruction.”
He encouraged the rookie to work through memory and video analysis while staying true to his core racing instincts, assuring that mental resilience remains unhit.
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